The Tripper: Review

Drugs. Boobies. Ronald Reagan.

Do I have your attention now? I bet I do. This is the basis of David Arquette’s directorial debut “The Tripper“. I have been anticipating this feature in this years line-up of the Toronto After Dark Film Festival. “The Tripper“, when I am asked, is about a Ronald Reagan impersonator going through the woods killing hippies at a rock concert. I know, I know, it sounds a little ridiculi. The question is, does it work as a film?

Hell yeah. With a pretty decent cast “The Tripper“ could easily be the best of the fest so far. The ride starts out with a buzz and relents only briefly to build upon the characters that we will learn to love. The deeper tale is that Samantha (Jaime King), who has recently left a very damaging relationship with her ex-boyfriend Jimmy (Balthazar Getty [who B.W.E. would constantly refer to as "my boyfriend"]) and is now with peaceful Ivan (Lukas Haas), is on a  trip to a rock concert with her friends (including Jason Mewes as the pot-loving Joey). The concert promoter, Frank (Paul Reubens), has scored a deal with The Mayor (Rick Overton)of a small town to hold his concert and Sherriff Buzz Hall (Thomas Jane) is none too pleased about it, considering the missing kids from last year.

David Arquette has done a brilliant job of balancing the scares with the laughs and believe you me, there are big fat portions of both throughout the film. Paul Reubens practically steals the show as the faux-hippie concert promoter and his comedic use of f-bombing was pure comedy genius. Thomas Jane plays second runner up as a scene stealer as his presence on-screen is commanding compared to his rather meek, but fiercely loyal deputy. The gore is intense and the blood flies as Ronald Reagan makes his way through the gauntlet of weed-smoking, nitrous inhaling tree-huggers. If you don’t like the idea of the use of illicit drugs, you might want to stay away from this film because it is EVERYWHERE. The thing is, it never seems out of place whereever it is.

Next let’s talk boobies. Nudity is prevalent through out the film. Early on, we are presented with unabashed full frontal of the variety that rhymes with cock. Not just a little “tee hee. I showed a pee pee in my film” but a full on, “hey this hairy hippy dude is remarkably unhairy where his reproductive organs are, and oh look, he really is a red head”. I shreiked in sympathetic pain as he is dragged, on his stomach mind you, across the forest floor. Can you imagine how many splinters you could get? Ugghh. He is partnered with a woman who appears to have placed a giant hairy yield sign over hers. As you may expect with a rock concert of hippies there are boobs everywhere. Again, it never seems out of place and makes perfect sense in the context of the film.

This movie is a PERFECT throwback to the slasher films that I, and apparently Arquette, grew up on. There are a few comedic Ronald Reagan quotes splattered throughout the movie, but one of the great highlights for me, was the appearance of a band that I loved in the day and was elated to see kicking up the shit still, Fishbone. Those guys can still do it.

It was a spectacular ride of guts and humour and nekkid hot chicks, and I think this could easily be the best of the Toronto After Dark Film Fest so far.